Julius Peppers plans on playing in 2017.
His agent, Carl Carey, confirmed that today.
“Julius, after taking some time to reflect during the offseason, has decided that he still has the desire and enthusiasm for the game, and his intention is to play a 16th NFL season,” Carey told ESPN.
Now the question becomes where will Peppers play in 2017?
He’ll be a free agent this week and there has been no indication the Green Bay Packers will re-sign him. That doesn’t mean that won’t happen, but Peppers was only a part-time player in 2016 and rarely delivered the type of impact plays we’ve come to expect from him.
Peppers finished the year with 23 tackles, 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
At this point in his career, you know Peppers wants to play for a contender. Will that be the Packers?
We suspect the Packers will let Peppers see what else is out there and then only re-sign him at a bargain rate if he doesn’t find any other takers.
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Peppers would be fine with a Dwight Freeney type role and contract. Maybe a little more money but bonuses based on sacks. Peppers may not say it but he cannot put in as many snaps as he did last year and not wear down by the end of the season, and the end of a game.
If he comes cheap, on a Freeney th contract, then I would be fine with bringing him back. Let’s keep in mind he was second in sacks on the team, he can still impact a game.
I don’t doubt Peppers could contribute a sack here or there, even if he was 45, because he’s a freak.
He may still have the enthusiasm and desire to play and get payed millions. But the harsh reality is that he lacks the speed to play against the new 20 somethings in this league. More times than not, they make him look like an old man out there.
Straight pure rush?…he still has skills.
Play action, screens, drop backs, etc……forget about it.